2026 ACAC Men's Hockey Player of the Year
Edmonton, AB (March 20, 2026) –
MEN'S HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR, TANNER SKLARUK:
Tanner Sklaruk, a standout fourth-year defenceman with the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Kings Hockey team, has received a special honour for his exceptional contributions to his team and hockey community. Sklaruk, an Open Studies student from Stony Plain, has been named the 2025-26 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Hockey Player of the Year.
This season, Sklaruk played a pivotal role in guiding the Kings to a 20-4 record, securing first place in ACAC Men’s Hockey during the regular season.
“Tanner has been a cornerstone of the Kings Hockey program, both on and off the ice,” says Randy Stewart, Manager, Athletics and Student Life. “Being named ACAC Men’s Hockey Player of the Year is a testament to his talent, work ethic and the standard he has set for everyone around him. We are very proud of his accomplishments.”
Sklaruk’s impact has been felt at both ends of the rink. He finished as the highest-scoring defenceman in ACAC Men’s Hockey with 33 points, while also anchoring a defensive unit that helped the Kings post league-leading numbers. Red Deer Polytechnic allowed the fewest goals against (75) and tied for the most goals scored (111) over 24 regular season games.
Offensively, Sklaruk’s performance stood out across the conference. He ranked second in assists (25) and tied for fourth in overall points, earning him a spot on the ACAC Men’s Hockey First All-Conference Team.
After finishing atop the standings, the RDP Kings advanced directly to the semi-finals, where they defeated the Portage College Voyageurs. Sklaruk continued his strong play, adding two goals and two assists over the two-game series.
He received the ACAC Men’s Hockey Player of the Year award during game three of the best-of-five ACAC Men’s Hockey Championship between the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and the SAIT Trojans.
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca